By Lacey Latch | Arizona Republic
FLAGSTAFF — Voters will decide on the rezoning of land near Fort Tuthill, where Northern Arizona Healthcare wants to build a new hospital, as Proposition 480 will remain on the November ballot, the Arizona Court of Appeals ruled on Monday.
The hospital system originally challenged the ballot referendum in late July claiming that the information presented to voters was misleading, specifically the mention of retail establishments that are not included in this phase of the proposed development plan.
“In light of the decision, NAH is prepared to inform Flagstaff city voters that the referendum listed on the ballot as Proposition 480 is about building a hospital, not about building retail and commercial development,” NAH said in a statement following the court’s ruling.
Flagstaff Community First, the coalition that submitted the referendum, has argued that their specific reference to Northern Arizona Healthcare’s “Health Village Phase 1 Specific Plan” was enough information for voters in relation to the new hospital and that they simply provided examples of what the change to highway-commercial zoning legally allows, which includes retail businesses.
